Press



T. SLOPER.

PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.15, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I III Patented June 21, 1921.

T. SLOPER.

Y PRESS.

APPLICATION FiLED DEC. 15, 1920.

llm l.

Patented June 21, 1921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' right half of the closed on to the tire band;

THOMAS SLOPER, OF DEVIZES. ENG-LAND.

PRESS.

naaaaae.

Application filed December 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, THOMAS SLoPER, a subject of the King of England, residing at Devizes, Wiltshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Presses, fication. I

This invention-is for improvements in or relating to presses, and has for its main object to provide a press in which articles providing a cylindrical surface can be sub jected to mechanical pressure.

. According to this invention, the press comprises in combination a sub-divided presser-plate for applying thrust to the article to be pressed, a thrust-plate situated behind the presser-plate to provide a purchase surface from which the presser-plate can be advanced, and an expansible chamber situated between these two plates, which chamber has a flexible wall on that side which bears against the'sub-divided plate, and is so constructed that fluid can be ad mitted to it under pressure.

The invention is particularly applicable to the manufacture of tires when these have been built up in band form on a cylindrical support. After building up, it isv necessary to consolidate the tire-band, and for this purpose-a press according to the present invention is particularly suitable, and in such case the sub-divided plate takes the form of a number of bars, arranged to constitute a sub-divided annular plate, which bars are disposed so as to be parallel to the central throughway axis of the annular plate formed by them, arid are guided "to move radially relatively to the said axis, the expans'ible chamber is annular in form, is made to surround the annular plate constituted by the bars, and the bhamber itself is surrounded by an annular thrust-plate.

One preferred form now be described ample only, with'the in drawings in which I Tigure l'is a partial central sectional elevation of an annular press, the left half of the figure showing the press opened for the insertion of a tire-band and its mold and the aid of the accompany Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1, the left i and right halves of this View illustrating the parts in the relative positions'in which Specification of'Letters Patent.

of which the following is a speciof the invention will, in detail, by way of exfigure showing the press bandjlS, is carried by V Patented June 2t, 1921.. 1920. Serial no. 4311,1101.

they are shown in the corresponding halves of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of F 1g. 1 but on a larger scale than that of F 1g. 1 and showing only one of the guides 2 inposltion.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in all the figures.

n annular thrust-plate or sleeve 1 is drilled radially at its edges to provide guideholes for a series of guides 2 whereby the movement of a plurality of bars 3 constituting the sub-divided presser-plate is controlled. The bars 3 shown in the drawings are straight bars and lie side by side, the longitudinal direction of the bars being parallel to the throughway of the sleeve or thrust-plate 1. Each bar 3 carries two guides 2, one at each end, and the bars are assembled on the inner side of the annular plate 1 with the guides 2 projecting through the guide-orifices in the edges of said plate. The guides 2 are provided with shoulders 4: to limit the radial movement of the bars in the outward direction, that is toward the wall of the annular thrust-plate, and the ends which extend beyond the thrust-plate are surrounded by springs 6 which tend to hold them at the limit of their movement in this direction. Mounted between the two plates so that it surrounds the presser-plate and lies within the thrust-plate, is an annular chamber 7 of flexible material, such as rubber reinforced with canvas, which chamber, when inflated, would take a form which would be more or less circular in cross-section, but it is of such dimensions thatwhen placed between the plates and these are in the inoperative position, its cross-section is elongated. Means, for example supply pipes 8 and 9, are provided for connecting the interior of at will-with means for supplying fluid unthe chamber! as fluid is admitted, the chamber will attempt to become circular in cross-section and will thus expand, and in so doing will thrust the bars '3, constituting the inner annular plate, radially inward.

he operation of this press is as follows: The article to be consolidated, such as a tire a cylindrical support or mold l1 placed within the sub-divided annular plate prior to the under pressure to the expansible chamber admission of fluid 7. During this part of the operation, the parts are in the position shown in the left half of Figs. 1 and 2. Fluid is then admitted to the interior of the chamber 7 with the result that the bars constituting the sub-divided plate are advanced by the pressure of that wall which bears against them, and in this manner are made to apply thrust to the article. The parts are then in the position shown in the right half of Figs. 1 and 2 and they remain in this position while the tire is vulcanized; To release the article, the fluid is allowed to escape from the chamber 7, and the spring 6 then returns the bars 3 radially outward, so that they now take up the position shown in the left half of Figs. 1 and 2. The article can be then be removed from the press.

lit will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to a press in which, the plates are annular in form; for instance, the sub-divided plate could be employed to apply pressure to an irregularly shaped article which it is constructed to surround, and the bars might advance inwardly varying disitances according to the shape of the artic e. 1

llf desired, the surfaces of the bars such as 3 which engage the article to be pressed, may

be shaped to conform to the configuration required for the surface of the article to be treated within the press. c

When the sub-divided plate is annular and is intended for use with. articles providing a cylindrical surface, the bars may be of such cross-section if desired that they will lie closely to one another along their whole length when advanced inward to the full limit of their. intended travel. This is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 in which the bars 3 are shown in their advanced position.

Although the invention has been described as adapted to a press operating on the outside of a cylindrical surface for the purpose of applying radial pressure inwardly thereto, it will be obvious that the invention would include in its ambit a press arranged to apply radial pressure outwardly, the sub-divided plate in such case being disposed exterior to the thrust-plate.

lhe presser-bars 3 may be covered on the side which is toward the expansible chamber with thin metal plates 12 to prevent the flexible wall of the chamber from being forced between the bars. These plates ex- .tend parallel with the bars and each plate covers the spaces on opposite-sides of the bar to which it is allotted.

To prevent the press from being injured should fluid-pressure be applied when no article is in the press, there may be used with the press a fluid-supplying chamber which only contains suflicient fluid to bring the presser-bars to the limit of their travel in theoperative dlrection.

can be advanced,

. between said plates,

' against By the employment of a large number of narrow bars to form the sub-divided plate, it is possible to obtain practically true radial pressure at every position, and the spaces between the bars may be so narrow that for most purposes they prove of no disadvantage.

Whatl to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a press, the combination of a subdivided presser-plate for hearing against an article to be pressed, a thrust-plate situated on the side of the presser-'plate remote from the said article for providing a purchase surface away from which the presser-plate an expansible chamber situated between said plates, which chamber comprises a flexible wall arranged to bear against the sub-divided plate, and means to admit fluid under pressure to said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a press, the combination of a subdivided press'er-plate for bearing against an article to be pressed, said plate comprising a plurality of bars arranged side by side in annular form; the side of the presser-plate remote from the said article for providing a purchase surface away from which the Dresser-plate can be advanced, an expansible chamber situated which chamber comprises a flexible wall arranged to bear the sub-divided plate, and means to admit fluid under'pressure to said chamber, substantially as described.

3. ln a press, the combination of a presserplate for bearing against an article to be pressed, which plate comprises a number of bars arranged side by side to surround said article, a thrust-plate situated on the side of the presser-plate remote from the article for providing a purchase surface away from which the presser-plate can be advanced, an expansible chamber situated between said plates, which chamber comprises a flexible wall on that sidewhich bears against said bars, and means toadmit fluid under pressure to said chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a press, the combination of a subdivided presser-iplate for hearing against an article to be pressed, a thrust-plate situated on theside of the presser-plate remote from the said article for providinga purchase surface away from which the presser-plate can be advanced, each bar of said presser-plate being guided by said thrust-plate to move toward and away from the latter, an expansible chamber situated between said plates, which chamber compressure to said chamv claim as my invention and desire '90 a thrust-plate situated on.

.naeaeae plate for hearing against an article to be pressed, which plate comprises a number of bars arranged side by side to surround said article, a thrust-plate situated on the side of the presser-plate remote from the article for providing a purchase surface away from which the resser-plate can be advanced, means coacting with the thrustplate for guiding said presser-plate toward and away from said thrust-plate, an expansible chamber situated between said plates, which chamber comprises a flexible wall on that side which bears against said bars, and means to admit fluid under pressure to said chamber, substantially as de scribed.

6. In a press, the combination of a subdivided presser-plate for bearing against an article to be pressed, which press comprises a plurality of bars arranged side by side in annular form to be situated in concentric relation to said article, the said bars being located parallel to the central throughway axis of said plate, a thrust-plate situated concentrically with the presser-plate on the side thereof remote from the said article, means to guide the bars so that they can move radially in relation to said axis, an annular expansible chamber situated between said plates, which chamber surrounds said bars and comprises a flexible wall on that side which bears against the said bars, and means to. admit fluid under pressure to said chamber, substantially as described.

7. In a press, the combination of a subdivided presser-plate for bearing against an article to be pressed, said plate comprising a plurality of bars arranged side .by side in annular form, a thrust-plate situated on the ity of cover-plates carried by said presserplate, which cover plates are arranged each to close a gap which would otherwise be left open between two adjacent bars on that side which is toward said expansible chamber, substantially as described.

8. In a radial press, the combination with a cylindrical thrust-plate, of a plurality of bars arranged side by side parallel to the axis of said thrust-plate in annular form and constituting a sub-divided annular resser-plate concentric with said thrustplate, spring-controlled guide means carried by each of said bars and guided by said thrust-plate for guiding said bars radially in relation to the longitudinal axis of said thrust plate, an annular expansible chamber situated between said plates, which chamber comprises a flexible wall on that side which bears against the bars, means to admit fluid under pressure to said chamber,

and a plurality of cover plates carried by said presser-plate, which cover plates are arranged each to close a gap which would otherwise be left open between two adjacent bars on that side which is toward said expansible chamber, substantially as described.

ture.

THOMAS SLOPER.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa-' 

